Convertible chair



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE...

JOHN KJELLEN, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

ElPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,067, dated October 15, 1895.

Application filed January 24, 1895. Serial No. 536.122. (No model.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KJELLEN, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, and a resident of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved convertible chair adjusted to form a chair. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same chair as adjusted and arranged to form a table, and Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the hinge which connects the adjustable chair-back to the back part of the chair-frame.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to convertible chairs; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a chair adapted to be converted into a table, substantially as will be hereinafterjmore fully described and claimed.

On the accompanying drawings the reference-letterA denotes the front legs, B the hind legs, and O the seat, of my improved convertible chair, which may be of Wood, metal, or other suitable material, with the seat upholstored or not, as may be desired.

In the drawings 1 have shown a librarychair having both an upholstered seat Cand back D. This back D consists of aflat plate or board, preferably made of wood and cushioned on its inner side, as shown at d, so as to form a soft, easy, and comfortable rest for the back of the person occupying the chair, but having a flat and smooth surface on the other or outer side adapted to form a flat top or platform when the chair is converted into a table, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Upon the lower end of this flat board D is fastened a bracket E, one on each side, having a stud e projecting at right angles, which fits into a slot f in the hinge-arm F, of which there are also two-via, one on each side for its appropriate bracket E and stud-hinge e.

The slotted arms F are pivoted each upon a pin or stud g, fastened upon and projecting from the side of the hind legs B B near their upper ends above the seat, where these are out off straight or square, as shown at h, to fit or abut closely against the impinging lower squared ends of two short pillars H, which are fastened upon the inside or face of the back D, one on each side, on the opposite side of the upholstered middle part or cushion (I, so that when the back is adjusted in its position to form a chair-back, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, these side posts orpillars H will appear as continuations of or in one piece with the squared upper ends of the hind legs B, thus giving a neat, complete, and finished appearance to the chair. These side pillars H, besides their purely ornamental feature, also have, however, an important mechanical function in forming supports or rests for the hinged back D and relieving the hinges E F from strain, as the weight of the back is supported upon the squared upper ends of the hind legs B by means of said pillars H, which are in alignment with and rest upon them, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In order to maintain or keep the chair-back D in this (upright) position, the squared upper ends of the hind legs B B are each provided with a central bore or recess h, into which fits a pin or stud h, fastened in and projecting from the squared lower end of each side pillar H.

In order to convert or change the chair into a table, the back D is first lifted by taking hold of it with both hands (one on each side) and raising it a little until the studs h slip out of their recesses h, the slots f in the hingearms F permitting of the back being thus lifted. The flat back D is then swung or tilted forwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, until it assumes a horizontal position, with its upper end resting upon the convex buttons a a at the upper ends of the frontlegs A A. I prefer to fasten two concave cups or disks 0. a, of rubber or other suitable material, upon the back piece Din such positions that when this is folded down horizontally to form the table-top, as shown in Fig. 2-, they will register with and fit uponor cover the buttons 0. a, thus forming a soft and slightly yielding support for the free end of the hinged table-top and prevent it from being scratched on the under side. This position of the hinged and adjustable back to form the flat top of a ICO brackets E provided with studs e; and the slotted hinge-arms F; constructed and com- 1'5 bined to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature :0 in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN KJELLEN. WVitnesses:

HENRY E. FISH, G. A. J OHANNESEN. 

